Patent GB-1296517-A (GB)
IPC: A24C5/39
Filed: 1970-02-24
Abstract: 1296517 Feeding tobacco HAUNI WERKE KORBER & CO KG 24 Feb 1970 [22 March 1969] 8807/70 Heading A2C [Also in Divisions G4 and B8] Apparatus for supplying material (or objects) from a store to a plurality of treatment machines, has a conveyance system between store and machines, and a series of demandsignal storage elements for each machine, each storage element of a series corresponding to a ranking step of a demand signal, storage of a demand signal in one of the storage elements causing cut-off of the storage elements of the same ranking step in all the other series, thereby preventing the latter elements from storing a further demand signal, storage elements being released when a machine has been supplied in response to a demand signal to permit any stored demand signal to be stored in the respective storage element having the next higher ranking step. When the supply of cut tobacco in any of four cigarette making machines falls below a certain level, a respective photocell 29a, b, c or d (Fig. 1a, left) supplies a 0 signal which is passed through a respective inverting delay 31a, b, c or d as a demand 1 signal to a shift register 36 having 3 stages I, II, III, each with 4 storage elements, e.g. 37aIII, 37bIII, 37cIII, 37dIII for stage III, the first stage. Each demand signal passes along the row of storage elements (see Figs.) respective to its machine, subject to the restraint that each stage may only hold one demand signal, e.g. presence of a demand signal in element 37aI produces a 1 signal from NOR gate 39aI which locks the element on (via feed back on line 57 to NOR gate 38aI) prevents (by means of line 58) storage of any further demand signals in the other elements 37bI, 37cI, 37dI of the same stage I, and cancels (by means of feedback line 57) the demand signal from the other elements 37aIII, 37aII of the same row and the inverter-delay 31a through which the demand signal reached element 37aI. The demand signal in stage I also, via NOR gate 46 (Fig. 1a, bottom left), line 62, NOR 30 and amplifier 56, engages an electromagnetic clutch 19 so that a continuously-running electric motor 21 drives a bottom belt 18 and spiked belt 17 to supply cut tobacco 4 to a hopper 22 from which it is sucked by fan 7 through a feed pipe 2a, b, c, or d to a supply box 1a, b, c or d respective to the machine which issued the demand signal, since the demand signal in stage I energises an electromagnet 11a, b, c or d thereby opening a flap in an upper chamber of the supply box, the suction of fan 7 being applied to the upper chamber which communicates via a screen with a lower chamber of the supply box which is connected to the feed pipe 2a, b, c or d. Engaging of the clutch 19 only occurs if suction is present in at least one of the feed pipes 2a, b, c, d as detected by suction switches 27a, b, c, d and the hopper 22 is not blocked as detected by a photocell 24. After a predetermined delay, specified by inverter-delay 47, the clutch 19 is de-energised, but suction continues for a further delay, specified by inverter-delay 52, to clear the pipes, after which a I signal on line 67 cancels the demand signal in stage I thus permitting any other demand signals in the apparatus to move one stage to the right, and de-energising the electromagnet 11a, b, c or d. The release of suction allows an inclined wall of the lower chamber of the supply box 1a, b, c or d to fall open under gravity thereby dropping the tobacco into the machine. A modification terminates supply when a pressure feeler in the supply box indicates sufficient filling, instead of using inverter-delay 47. The invention is also applicable where cigars, packages filled with tobacco articles, or filters are being produced or handled on several machines connected to a common supply, e.g. filter attachment machines or packing machines.